Tires Options

[orbit398]

I am getting ready to purchase a set of tires soon for my 914. Purchased it about a year ago and am just about done with the restoration. I have the four bolt Mahle rims and hard as rock old tires.

Looking around, I have found many tire sizes folks are using.

185/70-15
195/50-15
195/55-15
195/60-15
195/65-15
205/55-15
205/60-15


Looking for comments on what folks think it best. Normal driving is what I'll be doing.

[horizontally-opposed]

There are a lot of good choices in those sizes. Aesthetics will probably play a role in your call between them—a 50-series tire looks a LOT different on the car than a 60 or 65.

Your normal driving suggests a 195/60R15 or 195/65R15 might be for you. A lot of good middle of the road tires can be had in those sizes, and you will probably skip fender clearance problems experienced with some 205/60s on some 914s. 205/50s and 205/55s might fit better, but a test fit is still a good idea.

I'd look at those two sizes and go with what you like, and by their reviews. It'll probably be an all-season tire, but as someone pointed out, today's all-season tires are better than any normal tires to be had when the cars were new—and probably more closely approximate the characteristics of 1970s tires than today's summer tires will. You get a nicer ride and quieter tires to boot—for not a lot of money.

pete